Jesus proclaimed the good news of God by frequently using figurative forms of speech, which the Synoptic Gospels call "parable" (Gk. parabole). Matthew, following Mark, suggests that Jesus taught only in parables, so that "[w]ithout a parable he told them nothing" (Matt 13:34; cf. Mark 4:33-34). (1) Further, although the word parabole never appears in the Gospel of John, nor do any of the stories that we most associate with the term, much of Jesus' speech in John takes a similar form, such as "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5) or "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). The parables were not easy for people to understand; Jesus' disciples had to ask, on more than one occasion, for an explanation of what he meant (e.g., Mark 4:10-13 and pars.; Mark 7:17). (2) This comes as no surprise, perhaps, to anyone who has ever tried to make sense of the parable of the unjust steward, for example, in which a manager who engages in dishonest behavior seems to be commended as an example for Jesus' followers (Luke 16:1-12). As I teach the parables at synodical and congregational events during this season of the ELCA Book of Faith initiative, I find that people have no difficulty naming their favorite parable (often a tie between the good Samaritan and the prodigal son), but when asked what these parables mean, they hesitate before suggesting general moral principles: "We should be kind to other people" and "God loves me." While these are not bad sentiments, and they are certainly true, they hardly reflect the powerful and provocative impact the parables have had on Jesus' followers through the generations.
